G. Albert Shoemaker Lecture in Mineral Engineering

Mr. William E. (Bill) Cobb
Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer – Freeport-McMoRan Americas
“Meeting Escalating Stakeholder Expectations of the Mining Sector”

ABSTRACT: The tidal wave of expectations surrounding metals crucial for the rapidly escalating transition to a low-carbon economy, coupled with an increased focus on environmental-social-governance attributes and disclosures, makes 2021 an interesting year for the mining sector. Core issues include safe management of tailings facilities and respect for cultural heritage, both having intense focus and scrutiny. Responsible production, demonstrated through due diligence efforts, increasingly is being pushed throughout the integrated supply/value chains of these crucial metals. These, along with the global challenges of finding/bringing new production online, must be balanced against all stakeholder interests and needs.